Is your job in-line with your frugality?

[TinyFish]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

Hmmm I'd say it is half and half.

My company has many people who probably live beyond their means and who feel the need for snazzy clothes, or cars, or homes. I've had people at work who rent their houses sneer at the house I own because it is not in a fancy neighborhood. So there is some pressure to conform, but I tend to shrug it off. I have a fairly long commute, but I mitigate that by using public transport.

On the other hand, we get a lot of perks at work. I was thinking today that it is a bit of a case that the wealthier you are, the more things you get given to you, when it is really the poorer people who need things. So we get free sodas, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot lunches and snacks (sometimes I think they may be fattening us up for veal). Sometimes the lunches they buy us are so large we are set for dinner too. We also get given freebies such as backpacks, mugs, and shirts. There are sometimes events as treats that are free too.

We have generally good benefits and not bad 401K, though we had to fight for decent investment options for it.

And there are some more frugal people at work too. Was just having a conversation the other day with one of the bosses, we were talking about how evil credit cards are and how you can end up in big trouble with them if you are not careful.

In my job I sometimes have the ability to advocate frugality in the workplace. I was recently arguing with some people about whether we really NEEDED to produce a 200+ page document when the customer need could be better met with a few 2-3 page documents instead. Some people don't get that time is money when you are paying someone to do a job, and you have to put them to work where it will do the most good.

-TinyFish

[Homebody]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

I'm lucky in that I work at home. No work clothes or coummuting costs. I can be more organized with using leftovers.

However I do like the house warm in the winter, which makes up for it some!

[CRFSaver]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

I will say it fits pretty good for me. I have vendors that take me out to dinner and lunch, games and events so I dont have to pay for them.

[Elgin526]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

Mine is in line with being frugal. I'm a corporate travel agent and work for a non-profit organization and a big part of my job is to keep travel costs down for my company as much as possible. Some day's it's easier than others but we (my department) saves the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, dollars that instead can go to fund our programs.

[nanamom]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

I am a sahm so mine is in line. I looked at my DH's job next. He wrangles data for aliving and I have to say his is too. He can wear jeans and a nice shirt everyday and rarely goes out for lunch. They provide his cell phone. He works at making the machines more efficient with data and the way they present it. Using his skills cuts the companies costs for newer programs and for techies that only knowone program since he can usually figure everything out himself.

[tinapbeana]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

does my job enhance or stunt frugality (mine or others).... well:

i now live 4 miles from work (frugal)
bringing lunch to work is no problem (frugal)
it's a small company with 8 people in the office, so there's no 401k (not frugal)
i'm making more $ here than at my previous job, allowing me to save more (definitely frugal!)

and probably most frugal of all is what the company actually does: we design and support supply-chain, quality assurance, and contractor management software.

basically, clothing companies use our software to track when items have defects or are damaged in shipping. defect items can then be shipped to the TJ Maxx's of the world for frugal purchasing, and items damaged in transport can be 'charged back' to the offending contracter rather than the clothing company eating the loss and raising prices to compensate.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

Actually, yes.

They provide all the clothing I need. Decent clothes too. Polo-like shirts and khaki slacks. Free dry cleaning. Boots also. Every year! In short, I spend exactly nothing for clothing.

It also has medical insurance and 401k, paid vacation, and so forth.

Best of all, I actually like my job! I like my bosses, most of my co-workers, and even the work itself.

Of course, I want to make more money... but who doesn't?

[HalMd]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

My employer allowed me to become a contractor...mega-frugal.

[Snoopy2645]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

Well dh's job is only a mile away now so yes that is in line with us being frugal his truck now takes half the gas & thier is no cafe court their so now he HAS to bring his lunch saves us a ton!!! As for my job I would say yes also I get to choose the hours I work so usually we dont have to pay a sitter I do pay my oldest daughter but at least that money is staying in the familY I would rather pay her than a stranger PLUS I trust her more!!! And sometimes my jobs let me take home food so that saves a ton in food if they do we have to ask the stores what they want done with the leftovers but usually they tell us to take it if thiers any leftover!!!

[PauletteGoddard]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

In many, but not all aspects, yes.

The one aspect where it is not is where I am responsible for my own education and skill development, and in a fast-changing information technology environment I am learning or re-learning something at least once a year. I try to be frugal, and know there are online universities but still: fees, books, materials, parking fees if applicable, dinners-on-the-run.

Where I can be frugal: business casual or even jeans and runners are okay in 80% of my work environments. Many employers sponsor bus passes, and those that do are only one bus trip away. Starbucks coffee and many juices, tea, hot cider mix, hot chocolate mix, and of course water are free.

With an investment in a laptop, I'll be able to telecommute from many places offering wi-fi. Telecommuting from home is a tradeoff: I keep the temperature way down during the day (55F) and I'd need it to be at least 68F. I have to think: is the $1.50/day I spend on my scooter more than what I'd pay to have the heat on?

[Ima saver]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

My husband is a builder, so his work clothes are pretty cheap, but they are usually pretty grubby looking. He takes his lunch every single lunch, so that saves a ton of money. The only bad thing is, he drives a heavy van full of tools, so he uses a lot of gas.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?

Since I work from home, yes!

No extra clothing expense, I make my own coffee and meals and I am able to make dinner during the day.

I dont incur car expenses and was able to lower my insurance coverage to leisure use only.

I get to use the work computer and internet for free.

So, yes, I would say my job makes staying frugal a cinch!!